Republicans subject Mitt Romney's private-sector expertise to public scrutiny
Mitt Romney campaigning last August. Michael Milholin via flick
8:53 am Jan. 10, 2012
What exactly is the meaning of Mitt Romney's private-sector experience?
In debating Romney's work at Bain Capital, Republicans are having a very public, albeit 11th-hour, conversation "over what constitutes acceptable capitalist behavior," according to a front-page story in the Wall Street Journal.
A Times editorial today said that Romney is "the son of privilege and power, [and] has never known personal economic fear," and that he can't back up his claim of having created 100,000 jobs at Bain Capital.
There's nothing unusual in candidates, particularly Republican candidates, touting their private-sector experience as being superior to that of "career politicians." A lot of the time, it works. (See: "cable executive" Bob Turner versus "longtime stalwart Democrat" David Weprin).
But, as the suddenly energetic debate among free-market conservatives over Mitt Romney's career shows, all private-sector experience is not equal.
Some links:
2012
In attacking Romney's work at Bain Capital, his Republican rivals are debating "what constitutes acceptable capitalist behavior." [Neil King Jr. and Danny Yadron]
Romney can't prove how many jobs he created, and is "the son of privilege and power [and] has never known personal economic fear." [New York Times]
Liberalism needs a Steve Jobs makeover. [David Brooks]
2013
Attendees at John Liu's birthday party fund-raiser last night include embattled Councilman Larry Seabrook, labor leaders Michael Mulgrew, Stuart Appelbaum, Lillian Roberts, Patrick Lynch, Al Hagan, former speaker Peter Vallone Sr. and business leader Kathryn Wylde. [Sally Goldenberg and Carl Campanile]
A conservative editorial page mockingly takes credit for bringing unpaid electric bills to the attention of John Liu's campaign. [New York Post]
Liu handed out more than 760 official commendations since his election in 2009, a significant number going to campaign supporters. [David Chen]
New Jersey
"Assembly Republican leader Alex DeCroce had collapsed and died around 11 p.m. Monday in a men's room at the Statehouse." [Associated Press]
Christie postponed his State of the State speech. [Jarrett Renshaw]
Among the bills passed in the marathon session last night: a ban on political fund-raising on public property. [Christopher Baxter]
Albany
"I believe the M.T.A. is the most transparent part of New York state government," Joe Lhota said when he was confirmed as head of the M.T.A. yesterday. [Pete Donohue]
"The governor's office did not say why Mr. Cuomo chose March 20" for the date of the special elections around the state. New York's presidential primary is on April 24. [Thomas Kaplan]
A progressive criminal justice advocate supports Cuomo's proposal to collect D.N.A. samples from "all those convicted of crimes." [Richard Aborn]
"Bloomberg went out of his way to say nice things about Cuomo." [David Seifman]
“It was either a technical glitch or a mailroom error," Republican State Senator Marty Golden's spokesman said, explaining why the office may have violated state rules by sending a taxpayer-funded mailer to voters in a neighboring district. [Ken Lovett]
Transportation
The M.T.A. should negotiate a contract with the T.W.U., and not push for it to be settled by an independent arbiter, says a Manhattan Institute fellow. "If the M.T.A. does roll over, we'll know that that's Cuomo's policy too." [Nicole Gelinas]
Education
Delays in enacting a teacher evaluation system could cost the state millions in federal funds: "New York has a chance to be a national leader, or a laggard, and we are only interested in supporting real courage and bold leadership," warned Federal Education Secretary Arne Duncan. [Fernanda Santos]
Crime
Developer Bruce Ratner looms large in an upcoming corruption trial. [Michael Powell]
A Washington Heights man facing state terrorism charges might plead guilty. [John Eligon]
An Ohio tourist with legal gun permits back home was arrested for bringing two .357 Magnum pistols and a .45 semiautomatic to Manhattan "for protection." [Jamie Schram]
The New York Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Gawker reporter to get Nassau County Police Department records. The records could reveal whether Fox personality Bill O'Reilly pressed the police to investigate whether his wife was having an affair with one of their detectives. [Emily Anne Epstein]
Photos
A former Liu aide traveled to Madrid, which looks like one big canvas. [John Choe]
Zoning tax amendments are presented at Queens Borough Hall. [Dan Halloran]
Coney Island is sunny and deserted in January. [Allan Shweky]
Bloomberg and the Bloomberg muppet. [Muppet.wikia]
